Emma Grasping The Reins

Part 8: Promise

All the outlandish events that had happened faded under the warm glow of the morning sun. Lydia rose in my estimation to heights I never deemed possible. She had released me from suffocating grip of despair, and led me into the garden where the flowers of optimism were blooming with various colors and beauty. A place where, if I was left to my own thoughts and actions, would likely never have been found again. It suddenly became clear to me what Jenna meant when she said she owed Lydia forever. My support for Lydia was now firmly cemented in place, and no matter how strong the winds of change might blow, nothing could ever knock it down.

The memory of my last encounter with Emma continued tormenting me. The possibility of her forgiveness was now preeminent in my erratic thoughts. I hardly knew what to expect from her, or even if I deserved her forgiveness. The circumstances remained dubious. With great difficulty I attempted to keep my expectations in check. Yet I still clung to them like some mysterious key that may or may not fit into the intended lock.

During the day I went for a long walk giving my thoughts some time to percolate. When I returned home I walked up stairs and knocked on the door of my brother's room. I didn't wait for an answer. Instead I impulsively let myself in. "Good news!" I declared abruptly.

"Great" he replied passively with his attention elsewhere. "Which shirt do you like better?" he asked staring at the two shirts laying side by side on his bed.

"The black one on the right I guess. Why?"

"I need a shirt to wear tomorrow when we go to Lydia's house."

"How do you know about that?" I asked. "I was just going to tell you about."

"Lydia told me" he replied like he was talking to the shirts not me.

"I should have figured as much. So you're talking to Lydia now?"

"Yea, a little bit. Why?"

"No reason" I replied despite my discontent. I didn't have the energy to object and anything I said would likely have gone unheeded anyway. "Anyway, I'm going to go make something to eat. Let me know if you need any help deciding what pants to wear" I said sarcastically.

"The decision has already been made" he informed me. I shook my head and closed the door behind me.

The following day passed by so swiftly it hardly felt real. As the clock ineluctably ticked closer and closer to the long awaited hour, I grew increasingly nervous. I walked over to the window and peered out through the blinds. A thick blanket of darkness covered the sky outside. A few stars twinkled up above as if winking at me from afar. Despite my growing restlessness, my good spirit remained intact which, if nothing else, I took as an auspices sign.

Later on my brother met me at the back door looking uncommonly sharp. "I never thought I'd say it, but you look good" I said.

"It's not until you're well-dressed that you realize how foolish you looked when you weren't" he said.

"Well I certainly realized it."

"Yes, point taken. I should really start listening to you more often" he said with a chuckle.

"That's all I'm saying."

Much to my surprise, when I opened the back door I found Matthew standing there awkwardly. His hands tucked deep into his pockets clinging to the emptiness. "Good evening" he said. "I was just about the ring the bell."

"Matthew? What are you doing here?" I asked baffled.

"Yea are you lost?" my brother added.